Because it burns hot and clean, propane-powered appliances score efficiency ratings that reach well into the 90s, with some furnaces and water heaters reaching as high as 98% efficiency! It’s a fact, propane will outperform its other-powered counterparts in just about any home comfort application, including:
• Home heating – A propane-fueled furnace will heat air to about 130-140 degrees and operate in short intervals to minimize operating costs while maximizing warmth. This is quite different than an electric heat pump, which produces air that feels cool to the touch. On colder days, a heat pump must rely on its onboard electric heat backup to keep pace; once that backup system kicks in, the vaunted efficiency of heat pumps goes out the window. For colder winter weather areas like ours, propane wins again.
• Water heating – About 20% of the energy you use in your home is spent on heating water for your taps and appliances. A propane-powered water heater can deliver that hot water at half the cost of an electric water heater – or even less if you use a tankless system. This makes switching to propane a smart choice.
• Propane fireplaces and hearths – If you haven’t already replaced the wood in your fireplace with a gas log insert or replaced the fireplace altogether with a propane model, you are missing out on a whole host of benefits, including efficiency improvements. It costs anywhere from 30 -60% less to operate a gas fireplace per hour than a wood-burning fireplace, which loses much of its heat to your chimney.
• Space heaters – High-efficiency direct-vent propane space heaters are another way to up the efficiency in your home. By enabling targeted, high-efficiency zone heating to the most used rooms in your living space, you won’t have to rely as much on your primary furnace or boiler.
• Pool heaters – Propane pool heaters deliver more heat for less money than heat pumps, which draw heat from the outside air. This is a great thing if the outdoor temperature is warm but not so great for the morning or evening, when you need pool heating most. Solar heaters may be a little more efficient than propane pool heaters on paper, but they struggle when there’s no sun like on a cloudy afternoon or at night.
When it comes to efficiently powering your home comfort equipment, propane ups the ante, especially compared to electricity, which means lower bills, more comfort and a lower carbon footprint.
Want to find out how propane can help you save on energy costs? Contact us today for more information on how we can help you save with propane.